The recent fan poll to choose the next Ultimate Collector Series vehicle saw the LAAT/i Republic Gunship beat out the classic trilogy’s Nebulon-B Escort Frigate and TIE Bomber, meaning that for the first time in a decade the next UCS release will come from the prequel trilogy. Speaking with Brick Fanatics, Design Director Jens Kronvold Frederiksen and Designer Manager Michael Lee Stockwell discussed their progress.
Development on LEGO Ideas sets often starts before the set is approved. Was any development done on the Republic Gunship before it won?
Michael: We are knee deep in development now.
Jens: To be quite honest we didn’t have anything before the poll, we had done a little bit of thinking on the Nebulon-B and also on the TIE Bomber – but that was more coincidence. I would say the Nebulon was more to be sure we could deliver it, because of the structure. We were very much in doubt if it was at all possible to make at that size, so we were experimenting a little bit.
But with the Gunship we were sure we could do it and we hadn’t started any work. Our development side takes time at LEGO, so we hope that people will just be a little bit patient. It is going to happen, but we can’t mention the launch date yet.
Michael: We’re hard at work, definitely.
